Sinking shafts and the like.



D. E. MRAN.

SINKING SHAFTS AND THE LIKE.

Patented June 8, 1909.

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DANIEL E. MORAN, OF MENDHAM, NEW JERSEY.

SINKIN G SHAFTS `AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed October 15, 1907. Serial No. 397,539.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, DANIEL E. MORAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mendham, in the county of Morris and'State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sinking Shafts and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is especially designed forithe sinking of mining shafts with a concrete or similar molded curb or lining. Various features of the invention are alsoadapted for use in connection with curbs of other materials and in various classesvo'f work ordinarily performed `by open excavation or under compressed air; open methods of excavation including such operations as dredging etc.

which are carried out -at atmospheric pres-l sure either with or without the removal of water. The curb is constructed with provisions for subsequently inclosing a space at the bottom while initially .permitting excavation by dredging or other open methods. After sinking it `a suitable depth-by :open methods, the operation is continued under compressed air, 'the provision for in'closing the space at the bottom 'being utilized in this part of the operation. In the entireopeia tion of sinking there is included a vertical movement of the curb down to its bedand the subsequent finishing of the bedand closing of the lower end of the curb. The open excavationmay be continued throughoutthe downward movement ofthe curb, and coinpressed air be put on only for theiinal operations which do not involve `any -movement of the curb; or the open-excavation may continue only during part of the downward movement of the curb, depending upon the material being excavated and upon other` conditions, the excavation for the 'continueddownward movement being effectedunder compressed air. Preferably lan air-tight shaft adapted to permit excavation by open i methods is connected to thelowerpartof the curb, and the open upperend of this'shaft is maintained above kwater lever as thefcurb is sunk. Then when `it is desired to put` on compressed air the upper end of the shaft is closed by any suitable closure such, for ex-g ample, as a horizontal diaphragm carrying an `air lock. The shaft or similar structure may be separable at its lowerend from the curb, so as to be usableover again, andfis in itself -a complete article -of manu-facture. The inside lshaft is preferably smaller'tlian reduced upperipart of the vinner shaft.

the insidecross-section of thecurb, so as to leave a space between the two into which may be introduced a load of water or the like to assist in 'the sinking of the curb. Preferably the inside diameter of the curb increases upwardly. This gives anadvantage in excavating. Even where no inside -shaft is used, the dredging buckets or other eX- cavating means should move vertically, and in previous structuresthis vertical movement has sometimes been interfered with by the curbs working more orless out of plumb asv it sinks. Where an linside shaft is to be used the difficulty is even more serious. By increasing the diameter of the curb lat its upper end,vthe center line of the curb may be more or less out of plumbwithout `the side wallsinterfering with the vertical path required for the excavating bucket or for the shaft.

Other features of improvement .are re ferred to in detail hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrateembodimeiits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section ol' acurb in process of sinking under `pneumatic .pressure. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe upper end. Fig. 3 isa cross-section on thc line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa cross-section on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the Fig. 6 isacentral vertical section'of Eig. 5. Fig. 7 isa vertical section inthe process of sinking by open methods before striking the `water level. Fig.'7 a isa similar section under open methods after passing below water level. Fig. 8 isla vertical section showing one quadrant of the steel frame constituting the shoe of the lowermost section of the'curb. Fig. 9 is :a plan of Fig. S. Figs. 10 yand 11 are respectively a vertical and horizontal section of an inside mold. Figs. 12 and `13 are respectively a longitudinal section :and a horizontal section on'the'line 13-13 of Fig. 12 illustrating .another embodiment fol the invention. Figs. 14 and .15 are longitudinal sections at right .angles to each other illustrating the curb of Fig. 12` with atimber deck applied thereto. Fig. 16 is a plan of :the deck. Fig. 17 is-a plan of the timber edge of the lowermost section. Figs. '18.and 19rare yvertica'lsections of molds of the lowermost sections. Fig. 20 isa vertical section of a Inod'iiication of the yarrangement shown in Figs. 14 and 1'5.

Referring now to the embodiments of the invention illustrated, and especially to Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive, the side of the shaft is first surrounded by sheeting A down to any desired depth. The space within the sheeting is excavated and the sheeting braced in any suitable way. A steel form B constituting the outer mold is then erected consisting of successive rings of sheet steel superposed one upon another and fastened by outside angles, each ring being formed of a number of plates connected by vertical angles on the outside. The inside molds C (Fig. 10) are of varying diameters and are constructed ol' sheeting D assembled in sections stiffened and edged with horizontal angles E by which the seetions are connected to each other. The ends of the angles are connected by means of spliceeplates F. At one or more points in the circumference of each ring the angles are cut away as at G so that when the spliceplates are removed, one of the edges of the two adjacent sections may be drawn inward to freethe mold from the concrete. At suitable intervals the inside mold is made of increased diameter, the angle at the lower edge of the new section being fastened directly on top of the smaller section below. The first or lowermost section is molded within a shoe which I designate as a whole by the letter H, the outer removable mold B being attached thereto by suitable horizontal angles as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The outer and inner forms or molds being erected to suitable height, a number of vertical reinforcing rods J are set up near the outer mold and tied together by annular rods K, and the concrete forming the curb L is cast between the molds. When the section of concrete has hardened between the molds, the molds are withdrawn sufficiently, the earth excavated below the molded unincased concrete curb, and the latter sunk to a suitable depth, whereupon the molds are reassembled and a new section of curb is molded. The reinforcing rods J are preferably arranged with their ends bent inward and overlapping as shown so as to form a substantially continuous metal structure.

The shoe at the lower end may be any suitable strong preferably metallic structure, such, for example, as the annular trough indicated in detailin Figs. 8 and 9. The outer vertical ring M in sections is spliced by vertical plates and stiffened and braced by an outside ring N. An inner conical ring O is provided at its lower edge with a reinforcing ring P, connected to the lower edge of the vertical ring M and its reinforcing ring N. A number of suitable axial plates Q extend between the rings M and O, being connected to said rings and stifl'ened by suitably disposed angles. The inner ring O of the shoe 1s extended inward beyond the inner face of the curb by means of a second conical ring R stiffened by axial web plates S and carrying at its inner edge a short vertical ring 'l of the diameter of the air shaft and adapted to permit the erection of said shaft thereon. 'lhe joints of the rings l?. and 'l` are calked so as to be substantially air tight under pressure. The outer ring M of the shoe. prelrably extends up to approximately the level of the upper edge of the conical ring R so as to brace the latter. rl`he space within the conical rings O and 'l constitutes the working chamber and is designed of sullicient height for this purpose. Projecting upward from the ring T are a number of sections of shafting U most conveniently connected to each other by outside angles bolted together. Sections are added from time. to time to keep the top at a desired level, preferably above water level. The shaft U is large enough to permit dredging or other open exeawttion, and is preferably small enough to leave a space U for water or other load between the shaft and the curb. \"\7hen work under compressed air is to begin the upper end of the shaft is closed. To the upper end of the last section U of the shaft there is applied a diaphragm V with a vertical ring adapted for attachment to the highest section U and arranged for the passage through it of a smaller shaft which is made in two sections X and ,Y respectively, the section Y being connected in turn to the air lock Z. Section X of the smaller shaft is provided at its lower end with a door a opening downward. Each ol' the sections X and Y is divided into a space for the bucket and a separate space for the passage of the workmen by the use of a pair of ladders l) projecting into the shaft and braced at their inner edges by means of braces c. rThe vertical plates or bars c constituting the inner sides of the ladders deline a bucket space d, as indicated in F 5, to which a workman on the ladder has free access, while at the same time he is protected from being accidentally struck by the bucket or from having his escape from the caisson blocked by the bucket.

The first part of the. sinking operation is indicated in Fig. 7, the curbing not having gone down to water level and being open to the atmosphere, and the space below it being in course of excavation by open dredging or any similar process. Fig. 7 shows the work advanced to a deeper stage, below water level, and the top of the shafting U above the water, so that it may be continued upward and the air lock finally applied without any necessity for the workmen to go below the Water.

The construction described above utilizes steel for the cutting off of communication with the atmosphere, and also for the molds. There rectangular shafts are to be sunk or under various other conditions of size and relative expense, timber may be substituted for steel to a large extent, as illustrated in 'lon lili

Figs. 12 to 19. In this case the lowerinost section of the curb L is provided at itslower end with a reinforcement f (Fig. 12) or f (Figs. 14 15 and 17 made oftimber suitably braced to protect the cutting edge of concrete. The vertical reinforcing rods J are fastened at their lower ends to said reinforcenientf or f, and annular reinforcing rods K are embedded in the concrete `near its inner face, and also near the outer face of the lowermost section. The section to which the deck is to be applied, and whichwill ordinarily be the lowermost section, is formed with a groove g extending -entirely around its inner face for the reception of the deck. The deck, which I designate as a whole by'the letter 7L, is composed of `two sets of timbers crossing each other and bolted together, a lower set of longitudinal timbers j, and an upper set of transverse timbers c. The groove g `has its lower shoulder formed of a steel angle Z, upon which `the deck rests when in place, suitable substantially air-tight packing such as a heavy jute gasket lm being arranged between the angle l and the deck. The deck is pressed down to its joint upon the vjute gasket by means of wedges n driven under timbers 0, whichare held down by the projecting upper shoulder j) of the groove g. Along the longitudinal side of the curb the groove g is made of greater vertical width (Fig. 14) than along the transverse side (Fig. 15) forthe purpose of permitting the insertion of an extra timber o in the longitudinal grooves tol bear upon the ends of the up er tier of timbers 7c of the deck. The centra portions of the deck are braced against the upward pressure of the compressed air by means of oblique braces g, which have their upper ends embedded in suitable recesses in the inner face of the curb.

Where the curb is of rectangular shape and of sufficient size to require it, the sides are pressed apart by means of struts r and are held from bulging outward by means of tension rods s with. Iturn buckles, the ends of the tension rods being embedded in the concrete. Platforms t supported upon joists't resting on shoulders of the concrete, maybe provided at suitable heights for carrying temporary loads to assist the sinking ana-logous to the water or other temporary loading outside of the shaft U and withinlthe curb for the structure shown in'fFig. 1. The air shaft and lock will be mounted upon the deck in the usual or any suitable way, their position being indicated upon Fig. 16.

The timber deck is to be used in substantially the same way as the conical steel ring or deck R. That is 'to say, the inner shafting U is to be applied thereto and its upper end maintained above water level as the excavation proceeds, so as to facilitate the application of a lock when air pressure is to be used. The steel ring R, however, is preferably sunk ldryby pumping.

A system of timber forms is illustrated in Figs. 18-and 19, theforiner-being a section of Lthe'forms for the-longer side of the curb, and

the latter a'section for the shorter side. The vertical sheathing or mold boards u are connected tothe reinforce j" and braced by transverse braces v at suitable intervals, the

Ebraces at opposite sides of a wall being connected by twisted wires w, and suitable spacers being'introduced where necessary. The angle Z constituting the lower shoulder of the groove g of lthe concrete curb, is supported from the inner sheathing, and a supplementary line of sheathing u is built up thereon to form a groove in the concrete. With this style of construction the curb will be sunk vin the form shown in Fig. 12 until water is reached, after which the deck will be put in with the first section of shafting The excavation may then proceed by dredging or the like through saidshafting, and as the curb is lowered the shafting willbe raised by successive-small and veasily manipulated `units so as to maintain its upper end above waterlevel. Then when it is desired to put on compressed air it will be a simple matter to close the upper end of the shaft, as by means of the diaphragm previously described andan air-lock applied to such diaphragm or otherwise arranged to give access lto the working chainber below.

Various modifications in details of construction'maybe effected. Forexample, the shoe H is not essential, and there are cases lin which it may be absent. The ring R which connects theV bottom of the shaft U with the bottom of the curb may be flat instead of conical. The molds for the concrete curb maybe of wood or of metal independently of the shape, and the variousparts of the structuie for permitting the air-tight inclosure of the 'bottom of the curb may be made of steel or of timber or of other materials, in accordance with the conditions `and expense, and independently of the shape. The connection of the deck h with the concrete walls may be made by wedging `it against the upper shoulder ofthe groove g instead of against the lower shoulder, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. F or example, as shown in Fig. 20, the reinforcing ang e Z may be provided in the upper shoulder, and the blocks o and o with the wedges n between them may be introduced between the deck /L and the lower shoulder of the groove. By this arrangement the joint at fm is secured both by the wedges and `by the ,upward pressure of the air when working under pressure.

The` air lock may rest directly upon the diaphragm V, the section of shafting Y being omitted, and the section of shafting X may also be omitted. These two sections of shafting with. the door L at the bottom, are useful in case it is desired to pass long objects such as timbers up or down through the shaft, the door c serving to prevent too great loss of air in passing the timbers through the lock.

The provision for applying a temporary load within the curb to assist in sinking it is of great importance, especially where the shaft is to be sunk to a great depth or where for any other cause the curbing encounters great frictional or other resistance to further sinking. The area of the curb at its upper end and the height to which weights may be applied on the upper end are both quite limited, and the necessityT of removing such weights to build up the successive sections of the curbing is so burdensome that the applying of the desired loads within the curb greatly facilitates the operation at the same time that it ermits the use of a comparatively heavy oad.

I claim as my invention 1. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in forming an open curb of molded and unincased concrete, and partially sinking the same, and then inclosing the lower part of the curb, and continuing the operation under compressed air.

2. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in molding an open curb of molded and unincased concrete, closing airtight the lower part of said curb by a nonplastic structure, and continuing the opera tion under compressed air.

3. In the sinking ot` shafts, the method which consists in excavating to a suitable depth, molding a curb in the excavation, sinking the curb below the bottom of said excavation, and adding successive sect-ions at the top.

4. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in molding an open curb of plastic material in sections of successively larger inside diameter upon one another, removing the inside mold, excavating below the lowest section, and sinking the curb as successive sections are added at the top.

5. ln the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in excavating to a suitable depth, erecting molds within the excavation and molding a curb therein, and sinking the curb below the bottom of said excavation and adding successive sections to the top at the level of said excavation.

6. In the sinking o'f shafts, the method which consists in sinking a curb by open dredging, and maintaining during such sinking of the curb a means extending above water level for completing an air-tight space extending to the bottom of the curb.

7. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in sinking a curb by open dredging, maintaining during such sinking of the curb a means extending above water level for completing an air-tight space extending to the bottom of the curb, an d con tinuing the operation under compressed air.

8. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in sinking a curb by open dredging, maintaining during such sinking of the curb an interior air-tight shaft through which excavation by open methods may be conveniently carriedv on, and whiehshaftextends above water level, closing the upper end of said shaft so as to form an air-tight space extending to t-he bottom of the curb, and continuing the operation under compressed air.

9. ln the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in sinking` a curb by open dredging, building up within such curb during suoli sinking an air-tight shaft in successive small units through which excavation by open methods may be conveniently carried on, closing the upper end of said shaft to form an air-tight space extending to the bottom of the curb, and continuing the operation under compressed air.

10. In the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in providing a curb, excavating below said curb by open methods, and assisting its downward movement during such open excavation by temporary loads within the curb.

11. ln the sinking of shafts, the method which consists in providing a curb, excavating beneath the same, and adding successive sections at the top, and assisting its downward movement by temporary loads within the curb.

12. A curb designed to permit excavation below it by open methods and having within it means for supporting a temporary load to assist in sinking it.

13. A curb of molded concrete having within it means for supporting a temporary load to assist in sinking it.

la. A curb of molded and unincased concrete formed with a provision for attaching it by a substantially air-tight ljoint to a structure for cutting off communication between the lower part of the curb and the atmosphere so as to permit the sinking of said curb by open methods or under compressed air.

l5. The combination of a curb of molded and unineased concrete with an air lock and shaft smaller than the inside of said curb and connected with the space below said curb for excavating under compressed air.

16. A curb of concrete molded in a continuous mass from the bottom upward, and having its inside diameter increasing upwardly.

17. A curb having its inside diameter increasing ullnvardly and its outside diameter constant.

18. rfi. curb having its inside diameter increasing upwardly, in combination with a.

sh aft within said curb and through which excavation may proceed for the sinking of the cur 19. The combination with a curb of molded and unincased concrete, of a structure of non-plastic material closinO the lower part of the space within said cur to permit sinking under compressed air.

20. A structure for use in sinking a curb, said structure being adapted for attachment to the curb, and having a large passage through which excavation may proceed by open methods, and adapted to receive an airtight closure at the end opposite its attach ment to the curb so as to permit excavation under compressed air.

21. In combination, a curb, an air lock, and a structure connecting them and having a passageway larger than that through the air-lock so as to permit excavation by open methods when the air-lock is removed.

22. A structure for use in sinking a curb, said structure being adapted for attachment to the curb, having a large passage through which excavation may proceed by open methods, and adapted to receive an air-tight closure at the end opposite its attachment to the curb so as to permit excavation under compressed air, said structure being also readily detachable from the curb to permit its removal after sinking.

23. A structure for use in sinking a curb, said structure being adapted for attachment to the curb, having a large passage through which excavation may proceed by open methods, and adapted to receive an air-tight closure at the end opposite its attachment to the curb so as to permit excavation under compressed air, said structure being extensible to maintain its upper end above water level.

24. A structure for use in sinking a curb, and consisting of a shaft in combination with a diaphragm adapted for attachment to its upper end, said structure being adapted for attachment to the lower part of the curb and being air-tight so that upward pressure on the dia hragm when attached is transmitted to the ower part of the curb.

25. In combination with a curb, -a shaft attached to said curb, a diaphragm across said shaft and having a passageway therethrough smaller than the assageway through the shaft, and an air-loc r communicating with said passageway.

26. In combination with a curb, a shaft smaller than the inside size of the curb but large enough to admit of excavation by open methods and extending from the lower part of the curb to a point above water level, the space between the curb and the shaft being adapted to receive a load to facilitate sinkm0'.

t27'. The combination with a curb of molded and unincased concrete, of a structure removably attached thereto and closing the lower part of the space within said curb, to permit sinking under compressed air.

28. The combination with a curb of molded plastic material, of a shoe at the lower end thereof, a metal plate attached to said shoe by an air-tigl'it joint and projectino beyond the inner wall of the curb, and a shaft connected to said metal plate.

29. The combination with a curb of molded plastic material, of a metal shoe at the lower end thereof, including an inner conical ring O, a conical ring R rojecting inward. beyond the inner face of t e curb and connected by an air-tight joint with said ring O, and an air shaft connected by an air-tight joint with said ring R.

30. The combination with a curb of molded and unincased concrete having a shoulder on its inner periphery, of a deck the edges of which are ada ted to bear on said shoulder so as to cut o the space below from connection with the atmosphere, and to permit excavation under compressed air.

31. The combination with a curb of molded plastic material having a shoulder extending around its inner face, and having a nonplastic member l reinforcing said shoulder, of a deck h fitting said shoulder and adapted to be pressed against said shoulder to form a substantially air-tight joint.

32. A shaft for caissons having a ladder Z) projecting into the shaft so that its inner edge forms a guide for the bucket.

33. A shaft for caissons having a pair of ladders b projecting into the shaft so that their inner edges form guides for the bucket, and inclosing between them a space which is protected from the bucket.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL E. MORAN.

Witnesses:

DOMINGO A. UsINA, THEoDoRE T. SNELL. 

